August 2, 2014

Wine bar in Gallic hospice

A French hospital is to open a wine bar for terminally ill patients in an unprecedented but characteristically Gallic way to improve their quality of life.

Patients at the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital in central France will be able to take part in "medically supervised wine-tasting" sessions. They will be allowed to invite friends or family over for a drink.

Dr Virginie Guastella came up with the idea because she believes that patients "are entitled to enjoy" their last days. Patients enthusiastically supported the plan, which has been approved by the authorities. "Why should we deprive people reaching the end of their lives of the traditional flavors of our land?" Dr Guastella said.

The bar will open in September in the hospital's Palliative Care Centre…and stock a range of wines donated by local people. It will also serve whisky and champagne. If the bar proves successful, doctors at Clermont-Ferrand hope the idea will be taken up by other hospitals in France.